Wyangala Dam Decision Disappointing
Any delay to raising the Wyangala Dam wall to enhance water security in the Lachlan River catchment is a delay to future prosperity for the region.
Raising the dam wall by 10 metres to increase the capacity of Wyangala Dam would increase water security for all those communities along the Lachlan River catchment, from Cowra, Forbes, Grenfell, Parkes, Temora, West Wyalong and Young in my electorate to communities further west, such as Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston and Booligal.
The dam upgrade would increase its capacity to a further 650 gigalitres to ensure more water will be available when the next drought occurs.
The Federal Government has a vision for Agriculture to grow to a $100 billion industry by 2030 – for this seed to grow, we need to add water.
But this is not just about water supply for farmers and towns.
Traffic along the Newell Highway – a significant freight corridor of commerce between Melbourne and Brisbane – ground to a halt in for six weeks in 2016 due to the flooding of the Lachlan River, with reports a study finding the closure cost the national economy some $150 million – which has been described as a conservative estimate.
As the Minister responsible for water infrastructure, I established the National Water Grid in 2019 to build dams, to build our nation’s resilience to be better placed to counter the effects of droughts and flooding rains.
From an initial investment of $1.5 billion, a further $2 billion was announced in the 2020 Budget to make the National Water Grid a 10-year, $3.5 billion program – but the Federal Government has to rely on States and Territories to be willing partners to build dams.
I have spoken to the Minister for Water Melinda Pavey, the State Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and Cowra Shire Mayor Bill West regarding this issue and will continue to work collaboratively with all levels of government to ensure the best outcomes for the communities which stand to benefit from this important water infrastructure project.
I note the scepticism of the chair of a recent New South Wales Parliamentary Inquiry into the viability of two projects the State and Federal Governments were working towards bringing to fruition.
It would be a travesty to start taking advice from the city-centric Greens on what regional infrastructure to build – they have no concept about the needs of regional Australia and they would be content to see our thriving rural communities turn to dust.
They want to tear down, not build up, and they do not understand the value of water projects when it comes to growing agriculture or preventing devastating flooding.
Meet The FSC Candidates November 18
Thursday, November 18 at Club Forbes from 6pm will be a chance for the public to hear from potential council hopefuls before the December 4 elections.
In what shapes as one of the most fascinating and keenly contested elections in memory the final number of candidates is 13 and was confirmed last Thursday at the Parkes returning office after a ballot draw was conducted for the 13 Forbes Shire Council candidates in the upcoming local government elections.
They are (in ballot order):
1. Aidan Clarke
2. Margaret Duggan
3. Jeff Nicholson
4. Thomas Dwyer
5. Chris Roylance
6. Steve Karaitiana
7. Phyllis Miller
8. Brian Mattiske
9. Graeme Miller
10. Michele Herbert
11. Maria Willis
12. Emma Henderson
13. Jenny Webb
The first meeting of the new council will be on December 21 or 24, pending final election results being declared.
Whatever the case, we can only hope this council is as good as the last! Good luck to all candidates!
Local Artist Pays It Forward To Binaal Billa
When local legend Tim Acheson began painting his extraordinary indigenous artworks he saw it more as a way to under-stand where he was from and a form of cultural expression.
“It was also a creative outlet in my spare time more than anything else,” said Tim.
Fast forward from those early times to the halcyon days of today and now Tim’s artwork can be seen not just adorning the walls of Binaal Billa in Spring Street, Forbes but also on all their stationery.
“I wanted to paint as I enjoy it and also at the same time do something positive for the local Aboriginal legal service Binaal Billa,” said Tim.
“It’s a surprise that all this has happened and I am just happy I am able to contribute and play a small part,” he said.
Acheson is well known west of the great divide for his intricately detailed and culturally sensitive art and is often asked why he doesn’t donate more time to it.
“I love it but I have many loves and it is just a relaxing hobby for me. I have some fun with it but at the same time it is also a good way to tell the stories of my people and find out more about who I am and where I am from.”
Tim’s impressive art can be seen at Binaal Billa and all their corporate paraphernalia.
Got a story? Let us know – editor@forbesphoenix.com.au
News Bites
POP UP SURPRISE: Eugowra Men’s Shed Pop-Up Shop will be open on December 4 and 5 with a number of boutique one off items available on the day.
Eugowra Pop Up Shop
The Eugowra ‘Men’s shed’ pop-up shop on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December looks like a cracker and there will also be an online giveaway of ‘Rudolf The Weld Art Reindeer’ to one lucky men’s shed Facebook follower. The winner will be selected randomly at 3pm Sunday 5th December and announced on the Eugowra Men’s shed Facebook page. You do not have to be present to win, however the winner must be able to pick up or nominate a person to pick up as postage is out of the question, Ruey as she is affectionately known is approximately 1.8m tall and 1.2m long.
November Handicraft Centre Market Day
The November Handicraft Centre Market Day will be held on Saturday 20th Novem-ber from 9.30am – 1pm in Lachlan Street Forbes. Entry is free. There will be lots of home cooking, preserves, fresh produce and fresh eggs available for sale. There will also be a selection of Vintage Collectables now available within store including new Garden Art, making it the place to shop for that special unique Christmas gift! Social distancing rules will be maintained on the day for those who attend.
Pop Up Pre-School
Forbes Pop Up Pre-School in conjunction with Catholic Care Forbes and FSC will hold a Pop-Up Pre-School at Nelson Park this Wednesday November 17th from 10:30am to 12noon. The event is free but RSVP is essential youth@forbes.nsw.gov.au
Lion’s Club Car Boot Sale
The Lion’s Club Car Boot Sale is on Saturday November 20th from 8am-1pm, Lions Park, Junction St. Forbes. Cost of entry is free. Lions BBQ will be operating on the day. Anyone is welcome to set up a stall, table or tent selling craft, produce or second-hand goods. Set up from 7.30am. Sites $10. For more details contact Lions Club 0468 819 659 or 6851 2209.
Celebrating National Recycling Week 2021
NATIONAL RECYCLING WEEK: National Recycling Week is this week and Forbes Shire Council GM Steve Loane
(INSET) wants residents to know the importance of using the correct bins as the cost in relation to bin contamination becomes an issue throughout the Central West. Nearly a third of all bins inspected in the region contained soft plastics such as plastic bags in the wrong bin (yellow) instead of the red bin. FSC is committed to continuing to educate the community on proper bin use.
National Recycling Week (8th-14th November) is an annual event that encourages Australian Councils, workplaces, schools and individuals to consider what materials we place in our yellow lid recycling bins and how we can improve our recycling knowledge and build better recycling habits.
This year’s theme is ‘Celebrate National Recycling Week YOUR way!’ and Forbes Shire Council along with many others, is taking the opportunity to help improve the community’s recycling knowledge by lifting the lid on the issue of contamination.
Forbes Shire Council General Manager, Steve Loane said that while it is great to see the majority of our community regularly uses their recycling bin, and in doing so, reduces the amount of waste sent to land-fill each year, the level of contamination is rising.
“Recycling contamination is when the wrong thing is placed in the yellow lid bin and it’s a widespread issue. It can result in machinery blockages at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which is where our recyclables are sorted,” said Mr Loane.
“This creates hazards to the workers that help sort our recyclables, increase the amount of waste sent to landfill, lower the value of recycled items and increase the overall cost of recycling,” he said.
“Soft plastics such as plastic bags, food wrappers and packets, cannot be recycled through the yellow lid recycling bin and are the number one form of contamination. On average, 31% of all recycling bins inspected in the Central West contained soft plastics.”
Council encourages residents to look for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) for guidance on what can be recycled as the label tells you how to dispose of each part of a product’s packaging.
For more information on the Australasian Recycling Label and National Recycling Week visit Planet Ark’s website: https://planetark.org/programs
For more information on your waste and recycling services, visit Council’s website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/recycling.
Wyangala Decision Disappointing: McCormack
GIVING A DAM: Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has been a lone voice from federal parliament arguing the case for the Wyangala Dam Wall to be extended by 10m sooner rather than later to avoid flooding along the Lachlan River. Forbes has been experiencing minor to moderate flooding now for most of 2021. With more rains this week and Wyangala at near full capacity it makes for an interesting summer!
Any delay to raising the Wyangala Dam wall to enhance water security in the Lachlan River catchment is a delay to future prosperity for the region according to federal National’s MP and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack.
McCormack said that “raising the dam wall by 10 metres to increase the capacity of Wyangala Dam would increase water security for all those communities along the Lachlan River catchment from Cowra, Forbes, Grenfell, Parkes, Temora, West Wyalong and Young further west to areas such as Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston and Booligal.”
“The dam upgrade would increase its capacity to a further 650 gigalitres to ensure more water will be available when the next drought occurs. The Federal Government has a vision for Agriculture to grow to a $100 billion industry by 2030 – for this seed to grow, we need to add water,” he said in a statement.
“But this is not just about water supply for farmers and towns. Traffic along the Newell Highway ground to a halt for six weeks in 2016 due to the flooding of the Lachlan River costing the national economy some $150 million,” McCormack said.
“As the Minister responsible for water infrastructure, I established the National Water Grid in 2019 to build dams, to build our nation’s resilience to be better placed to counter the effects of droughts and flooding rains. From an initial investment of $1.5 billion and a further $2 billion in the 2020 Budget – but the Federal Government has to rely on States and Territories to be willing partners.”
Remember To Remember
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2021: Remembrance Day 2021 was held at the Forbes Cenotaph this week for the first time in two years due to COVID. Locally, many residents came to pay their respects for the fallen who have served us across all wars. More photos and coverage next week.
It is a tradition that started before most of us were born and one that will continue long after. This week, Forbes Cenotaph was the site of a subdued but intimate Remembrance Day after two years of disruptions.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front after the blood-shed of World War I. November 11, 1918 was the moment that Germany, the Allied Forces and United States signed an armistice. The day is a time to remember those who served and sacrificed in all wars and conflicts. According to the NSW RSL, the conflict is estimated to have resulted in 20 million dead and as many injured.
The local ceremony at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park was again another fitting acknowledgement of our fallen soldiers and those who served with wreath laying and speeches including words from Michael Walker (President of the Forbes RSL Sub Branch) and the traditional minute’s silence at 11am.
To all our service men and women – thank you for your service. We will remember them…
Letter from the Editor
As Head Editor of both Parkes and Forbes Phoenix newspapers I often get asked about “our little, free paper” and I thought here is a perfect way to explain who we are, what we are about and why we are one of the few media organisations bucking the trend and growing while others are downsizing and cost-cutting.
The Forbes and Parkes Phoenix news-papers have now been operating in their respective towns for 6-7 years and in that time we have gone from humble beginnings birthed from the Canowindra Phoenix, through to one of the biggest independently owned rural media groups in Australia – the Phoenix Newspaper Group.
We cover Forbes, Parkes, Canowindra, Cowra, Blue Mountains, Mudgee, Hilltops, Griffith, Yass, Hawkesbury and Goulburn – meaning we have you covered in southern and western NSW. In addition to this we also offer cheaper ad rates, free delivery – meaning people seek us out, wider circulation (as we deliver to roadside mailboxes), social media advertising and editorial in addition to print and video for long term advertisers. No other newspaper group or media organization delivering a media product offers the same anywhere in our region. Food for thought.
Snippets…
HELPING THE VULNERABLE: Forbes Cenwest Tours are doing countryside and sunset drives for those suffering from terminal illness and looking for some peace and quiet. It is a great initiative that has been well-received.
Cenwesttours Forbes helping the ill
If you are a friend or a relative of someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, please let the team at Cenwest tours Forbes know so they can take you or your loved one on an idyllic one-hour countryside Forbes Sunset Tour in their beautiful limousine absolutely FREE.
The team at Cenwesttours Forbes love Forbes and those that have supported them over the years and want to give back to such a caring community. The tour includes a bottle of wine of your choice plus a cheese platter on the banks of the AMAZING Lake Forbes all totally free of charge. Times like this, lasting memories are most appreciated. Cenwesttours Forbes, really are going the extra mile! Great work!
Fundraiser for Chelsie today at the Golfy
Come down to the Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel TODAY November 12 from 4pm and help raise some much-needed funds to help support Chelsie Farmer and her family. Chelsie was involved in a very serious and traumatic motorbike accident and suffered severe life-threatening injuries on 22nd October. She has a long road ahead of her and her recovery journey will be even longer. 100% proceeds will go to the family and Chelsie – see you there! Stevie, Rheeba and Sabrina.
Are you a new mum or new mum to Forbes?
Forbes Community Health will be running a Telehealth Virtual new mum’s group for all the first-time mum’s or mum’s new to the area. This is a great way to meet new people, get advice or support and even make lifelong friendships. The group is on Monday’s from 10am for another 5 weeks. For registration details mum’s can contact Jane on 6850 7300 or via email jane.omalley@health.nsw.gov.au
Child and Family Health Nurse
A drop-in clinic is held every Tuesday at Forbes Preschool. Entrance is via the side of Preschool near the Tennis Court. No Appointments are necessary and your child or siblings do not need to be enrolled at Forbes Preschool to see the CFHN. CFHNs can do Blue Book checks and assist on a range of topics from breastfeeding to developmental milestones. COVID-19 precautions in place including QR code check-in. For more Information please contact Denise via email denise.hopkins@health.nsw.gov.au or phone 6850 7305. Alternatively, you may contact Forbes Community Health Reception on 6850 7300.
FORBES HIGH HSC READY: The students at Forbes High School had a positive start to the Higher School Certificate and were eager to get into it after delays and reintegration back into normal schooling. We look forward to their successful completion of all of their exams – Principal Kathy Maksymczuk. More coverage next week.
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